Removable tile and fastener assembly



Feb. 14, 1967 E. SWAIN 3,303,624

REMOVABLE TILE AND FASTENER ASSEMBLY Filed April 23, 1964 III I 1'232 1. ls fls F I G 4, INVENTOR Ernest Swain BY/ hw 64mm ATTORNEY UnitedStates Patent 3,303,624 REMOVABLE TILE AND FASTENER ASSEMBLY ErnestSwain, 41 Dollard Drive, North Babylon, N.Y. 11703 Filed Apr. 23, 1964,Ser. No. 362,037 4 Claims. (Cl. 52-496) This invention relates generallyto tile matrix installations and more particularly to a tile removablyassociated with a stationary tile assembly, the function of saidremovable tile being to permit access to valves, dampers, wiring and thelike positioned rearwardly of the tile matrix superposed with respect toa ceiling, floor or wall surface.

The instant invention is essentially directed to the provision offastening means employed in combined relation with a removable tilewhereby coaction therewith of any spline utilized between abutting tilesmay be accomplished notwithstanding variation of configuration or of thedimensional character of the spline involved.

An object of the present invention is to provide a removable tile havinga rotatable button partially extending outwardly of the exposed surfacethereof, whereby manual rotation of said button will effectuate releaseor securement of said tile with respect to stationary tiles disposedadjacently thereto.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of a buttonfastener which may be readily applied to a conventional tile thusrendering said tile removable with respect to a plurality of stationarytiles.

A further object of the present invention is to provide fastening meansrotatably mounted upon a movable tile, said means being engageable withthe spline of an adj acently disposed coplanar abutting tile, saidengagement being elfectuated inwardly of the reverse surface of saidremovable tile.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in parthereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrorn, or may be learned bypractice of the invention, the same being realized and attained by meansof the structure defined and pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements,combinations and improvements herein shown and described. Theaccompanying drawings referred to herein and constituting a part hereof,illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together with thedescription, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a coplanar tile matrix installed as acovering for a ceiling surface, one tile thereof being removable andbeing identifiable by dint of the button projecting therefrom;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the removale tile andfastener assembly secured with respect to a stationary tile;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational cross-sectional view of the inventiontaken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 2 and illustrating the novel fasteningmeans pressingly engaging the base portion of the spline memberinterposed therebetween;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary side elevational crosssectional view of theremovable tile and fastener assembly secured between adjacent coplanarstationary tiles, the spline members shown therein being modificationsof the spline member shown in FIGURES 2 and 3; and

FIGURE 5 is an exploded view of the button type fastener meanspreferably utilized in the fulfillment of this invention. a

It will be understood that the foregoing general objectives and thefollowing detailed description as well are exemplary and explanatory butare not restrictive of the invention.

Referring now in detail to the present preferred embodiment of theinvention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, FIGURE 1 shows theremovable tile and fastener assembly designated generally by numeral 1,said assembly being secured to and coplanar with stationary tiles 2 and4, other stationary tiles being included to complete a section of a tilematrix covering a ceiling surface.

As seen in FIGURE 4 of the drawings, the removable tile 1 is disposedbetween a pair of coplanar, spaced, stationary tiles 2 and 4, said tileshaving obverse and reverse surfaces 6 and 8, respectively, and end walls10 and 12 disposed at opposite ends thereof, said end walls of saidstationary tiles having channels or grooves 14 similarly providedlengthwise thereof, each said channel having upper and lower walls 16and 18, respectively, disposed in spaced, parallel relation. It willalso be observed that end wall 12 of said removable tile is similarlyprovided with a groove 14. As shown, the reverse surface 8 of saidremovable tile 1 is provided with a cutaway portion 20, adjacent the endwall 10 thereof, said cut-away portion having a base 22 parallel withrespect to reverse surface 8 and coplanar with respect to the lower wall18 of said channels, a portion 24 of said base 22 extending the lengthof the end wall 10* of said removable tile to thereby provide a flangedefined by the portion '24 and the end wall 10 (see FIGURES 2 and 4).

With further reference to FIGURE 4 and to FIGURES 2 and 3, it will beobserved that passage 26 disposed through said removable tile 1,provides communication between said base 22 and said obverse surface 6,fastening means or button 28 specifically, being rotatably mountedtherewit'hin. Y

Button 28 as shown in exploded form in FIGURE 5 of the drawings, ispreferably comprised of coaxially disposed stud portion 30, neck portion32, shoulder portion 34 and head portion 36-, said stud portion beingrectangular of cross-section as illustrated in FIGURE 2. As disclosed inFIGURES 3 and 4, said head portion 36 is adapted to extend outwardly ofsaid obverse surface 6 of said removable tile, said shoulder portion 34being contiguous and slidalble with respect to said obverse surface. 1

Flat straight arm member 38 having a rectangular opening 40 disposedtherethrough inwardly of end 42 thereof,

is removably secured to said stud portion 30 by speed nut 44 or othersuitable means and is, accordingly, adapted to rotate therewith whenhead portion 36 of button 28 is manually rotated. As seen in FIGURE 3,the lower surface 46 of arm member 38 is coplanar with respect to baseupper wall 16.0f channel 14 and parallel with respect to said base 2 ofsaid cut-away portion 20. Accordingly, arm member 38 is adapted torotate in a plane disposed intermediate said obverse and reversesurfaces 6 and 8, and by dint of such rotation is pressingly engageablewith tongue portion 47 of spline member 48, said tongue portion beingremovably receivable within channel 14 of stationary tile 2, a portionthereof being adapted for superposition with respect to portion 24 ofsaid It will be appreciated that tongue portion 47 of spline member 48is receivable within abutting channels of respective tiles as shown inFIGURE 1, to thereby retain said tiles in the form of a coplanar matrix,said tongue portion of said spline member having upper and lowersurfaces 50 and 52, respectively, adapted for seating engagement withsaid upper and lower walls 16 and 18, respectively, of said channels 14.

It will be further appreciated that the spline member may assumealternate forms, as shown, e.g., in FIGURE 4 wherein a modified splinemember 54 is seen comprised entirely of tongue portion 47, cement 56being utilized to fasten the stationary tiles to wall or ceiling surface58, this construction and fastening means being in lieu of the Z-bararrangement according to FIGURE 3.

Thus, as aforestated and as specifically shown in FIGURE 2 of thedrawings, arm member 38 shown in solid line illustration is pres-singlyengaging a port-ion of the upper surface 50 of the tongue portion 47 ofthe spline member, the disengaged position of said arm member beingshown in broken line illustration and designated by numeral 38'.

Washer 60, interposed between said straight arm member 38 and base 22 ofsaid cut-away portion serves as a bearing surface facilitating therotational movement of said button and arm member.

Hence, it will be apparent that rotation of said arm member intopressing engagement with said spline member will secure the removabletile within the tile matrix, while rotation of said arm member out ofsuch engagement will permit the withdrawal of said removable tiletherefrom thus permitting access to the area therebehind.

Although the preferred embodiment of the device has been described, itwill be understood that within the purview of this invention variouschanges may be made in the forms, details, proportion and arrangement ofparts, the combination thereof and mode of operation, which as generallystated consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects setfort-h, as disclosed and defined in the appended claims:

What is claimed is:

1. In a tile assembly for covering a surface, the combination comprisinga pair of coplanar, spaced, stationary tiles and a removable tiledisposed therebetween and in coplanar relation therewith, said tileshaving obverse and reverse surfaces and end walls disposed at oppositeends thereof, said end walls of said' stationary'tiles having channelssimilarly provide-d lengthwise thereof, each said channel having upperand lower walls disposed in spaced, parallel relation, the reversesurface of said removable tile having a cut-away portion adjacent one ofthe end walls thereof, the other end Wall thereof having a channelprovided lengthwise thereof, said cut-away portion having a baseparallel with respect to said reverse surface and coplanar with respectto the lower wall of said channels, a portion of said base extending thelength of'said one of said end walls, a passage through 'saidremovabletile providing communication between said base and said obversesurface, a button rotatably mounted within said passage, said buttonhaving coaxially disposed st-ud, neck, shoulder, and head portions, saidstud being rectangular 2. In a tile assembly for covering a surface, thecombination comprising a pair of coplanar, spaced, stationary tiles anda removable tile disposed therebetween and in coplanar relationthere-with, said tiles having obverse and reverse surfaces and end wallsdisposed at opposite ends thereof, said end walls of said stationarytiles having channels similarly provided lengthwise thereof, each saidchannel having upper and lower walls disposed in spaced, parallelrelation, the reverse surface of said removable tile having a cut-awayportion adjacent one of the end walls thereof, the other end wallthereof having a channel provided lengthwise thereof, said cut-awayportion having a base parallel with respect to said reverse surface andcoplanar with respect to the lower wall of said channels, a portion ofsaid base extending the length of said one of said end walls, a passagethrough said removable tile providing communication between said baseand said obverse surface, a button rotatably mounted within saidpassage, 9. first portion of said button extending outwardly of saidobverse surface of said removable tile and a second portion of saidbutton extending outwardly of said base portion thereof, a hat armmember removably secured to said second portion and adapted to rotatetherewith, said arm member extending laterally of said second portion,the lower surface of said arm member being coplanar with respect to theupper wall of said channels and parallel with the base of said cut-awayportion, spline members removably receivable lengthwise of saidchannels, a portion of a respective spline member being receivablewithin abutting channels of respective tiles, said spline members havingupper and lower surfaces adapted for seating engagement with said upperand lower walls, respectively, of said channels, said rotatable armmember being adapted to pressingly engage a portion of the upper surfaceof the spline member extending without the channel of a stationary tileto thus retain said spline member against the portion of said baseextending the length of said one of said end walls of said removabletile to thereby relation with said stationary tile.

3. In a tile assembly for covering a surface, a removable tile havingobverse and reverse surfaces and end of cross-section, said head portionbeing adapted to extend outwardly of said obverse surface of saidremovable tile,

said shoulder portion being contiguous with said obverse surfacethereof, a hat arm member having a rectangular opening disposedtherethrough inwardly of one end thereof, said arm member beingremovably secured to said 'stud and adapted to rotate therewith, saidarm member extending later-ally of said stud, the lower surface of saidarm member being coplanar with respectto the upper wall of said channelsand parallel'with the base of said cut-away portion, spline membersremovably receivable lengthwise of said channels, a portion of arespective spline member being receivable Within abutting channels,

of respective tiles, said spline members having upper and lower surfacesadapted for seating engagement with said upper and lower walls,respectively, of said channels,

said rotatable arm member being adapted to pressingly engage a portionof the upper surface of the spline member extending without the channelof a stationary tile to thus retain said spline member against theportion of said base extending the length of said one of said end wallsof said removable tile to thereby removably retain said removable tilein end wall abutting relation Wi h Said stationary tile. i

walls disposed at opposite ends thereof, one said end wall having achannel provided lengthwise. thereof, said channel havin upper and lowerwalls disposed in spaced parallel relation, the reverse surface of saidremovable tile having a cut-away portion adjacent the other end wallthereof, said cut-away portion having a base parallel with respect tosaid reverse surface and coplanar with respect to the lower wall of saidchannel, a portion of said base extending the length of said other endWall, a passage through said removable tile providing communicationbetween said base and said obverse surface, a button rotatably mountedwithin said passage, a first portion of said button extending outwardlyof said obverse surface and a second portion-of said button extendingoutwardly of said base portion, a straight arm member removably securedtosaid second portion and adapted to rotate therewith, said arm memberextending laterally of said second portion, the lower surface of saidarm member being coplanar with respect to the upper wall of said channeland parallel with the base of 7 said cut-away portion.

' able tile having obverse and re'versesurfaces and end walls disposed,at opposite ends thereof, one said end wall having 'a channel providedlengthwise thereof, said channel having upper and lower walls, disposedin spaced :parallel relation, the reverse surface of said removable tilehaving a cut-away portion adjacent the other end Wall thereof, saidcut-away portion having a base parallel with respect to said reversesurface and coplanar with respect to the lower wallof said channel, aportion of said base extending the length of said other end wall, apassage through said removable tile providing communication between saidbase and said obverse surface,

removably retain said-removable tile in end wall abutting 5 6 fasteningmeans rotattab-ly mounted within said passage, References Cited by theExaminer a straight arm member secured to said fastening means, UNITEDSTATES PATENTS said arm member extending laterally of said fasteningmeans, the lower surface of said arm member being 1652'548 12/1927vvlens'el 292202 coplanar with respect to the upper wall of said channel5 37 K 3 i and parallel with the base of said cut-away portion, rota-,23 52; giggl tion of said fastening means causing rotation of said armmember. REINALDO P. MACI-IADO, Primary Examiner.

1. IN A TILE ASSEMBLY FOR COVERING A SURFACE, THE COMBINATION COMPRISINGA PAIR OF COPLANAR, SPACED, STATIONARY TILES AND A REMOVABLE TILEDISPOSED THEREBETWEEN AND IN COPLANAR RELATION THEREWITH, SAID TILESHAVING OBVERSE AND REVERSE SURFACES AND END WALLS DISPOSED AT OPPOSITEENDS THEREOF, SAID END WALLS OF SAID STATIONARY TILES HAVING CHANNELSSIMILARLY PROVIDED LENGTHWISE THEREOF, EACH SAID CHANNEL HAVING UPPERAND LOWER WALLS DISPOSED IN SPACED, PARALLEL RELATION, THE REVERSESURFACE OF SAID REMOVABLE TILE HAVING A CUT-AWAY PORTION ADJACENT ONE OFTHE END WALLS THEREOF, THE OTHER END WALL THEREOF HAVING A CHANNELPROVIDED LENGTHWISE THEREOF, SAID CUT-AWAY PORTION HAVING A BASEPARALLEL WITH RESPECT TO SAID REVERSE SURFACE AND COPLANAR WITH RESPECTTO THE LOWER WALL OF SAID CHANNELS, A PORTION OF SAID BASE EXTENDING THELENGTH OF SAID ONE OF SAID END WALLS, A PASSAGE THROUGH SAID REMOVABLETILE PROVIDING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SAID BASE AND SAID OBVERSE SURFACE,A BUTTON ROTATABLY MOUNTED WITHIN SAID PASSAGE, SAID BUTTON HAVINGCOAXIALLY DISPOSED STUD, NECK, SHOULDER AND HEAD PORTIONS, SAID STUDBEING RECTANGULAR OF CROSS-SECTION, SAID HEAD PORTION BEING ADAPTED TOEXTEND OUTWARDLY OF SAID OBVERSE SURFACE OF SAID REMOVABLE TILE, SAIDSHOULDER PORTION BEING CONTIGUOUS WITH SAID OBVERSE SURFACE THEREOF, AFLAT ARM MEMBER HAVING A RECTANGULAR OPENING DISPOSED THERETHROUGHINWARDLY OF ONE END THEREOF, SAID ARM MEMBER BEING REMOVABLY SECURED TOSAID STUD AND ADAPTED TO ROTATE THEREWITH, SAID ARM MEMBER EXTENDINGLATERALLY OF SAID STUD, THE LOWER SURFACE OF SAID ARM MEMBER BEINGCOPLANAR WITH RESPECT TO THE UPPER WALL OF SAID CHANNELS AND PARALLELWITH THE BASE OF SAID CUT-AWAY PORTION, SPLINE MEMBERS REMOVABLYRECEIVABLE LENGTHWISE OF SAID CHANNELS, A PORTION OF A RESPECTIVE SPLINEMEMBER BEING RECEIVABLE WITHIN ABUTTING CHANNELS OF RESPECTIVE TILES,SAID SPLINE MEMBERS HAVING UPPER AND LOWER SURFACES ADAPTED FOR SEATINGENGAGEMENT WITH SAID UPPER AND LOWER WALLS, RESPECTIVELY, OF SAIDCHANNELS, SAID ROTATABLE ARM MEMBER BEING ADAPTED TO PRESSINGLY ENGAGE APORTION OF THE UPPER SURFACE OF THE SPLINE MEMBER EXTENDING WITHOUT THECHANNEL OF A STATIONARY TILE TO THUS RETAIN SAID SPLINE MEMBER AGAINSTTHE PORTION OF SAID BASE EXTENDING THE LENGTH OF SAID ONE OF SAID ENDWALLS OF SAID REMOVABLE TILE TO THEREBY REMOVABLY RETAIN SAID REMOVABLETILE IN END WALL ABUTTING RELATION WITH SAID STATIONARY TILE.